Fireproof waste paper basket



17, 1931- R. v. SPENCER 1,832,056

FIREPROOF WASTE PAPER BASKET Filed July 25, 1950 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 RICHARD v. srnivcnn, orfLos mourns, CALIFORNIA rxmnoor wAsrE PAPER BASKET Application filed July 25, 1930. SeriaINo. 470,727.

This invention relates to waste baskets and more particularly to a device of this'character so constructed that in case the contents the waste basket with a cover hmgedly mounted and secured in a raised position by a prop formed of readily inflammable material so that in case the contents of the waste basket catches fire this prop may be quickly consumed and the cover allowed to moveto a closed position before the fire may spread.

Another object of the invention is to so form the cover that in addition to serving as a cover it may also serve as a container for water or a fire extinguishing chemical, the inner wall of the cover having one or more outlets formed therein closed by plugs of inflammable material so that the contents of the waste basket may be drenched to insure extinguishing of the fire when the cover moves to a closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the receptacle or body portion ofthe waste basket with a fuse leading from near the bottom of the receptacle ble cover supporting wedge,

t the inflammathereby insuring moves to a closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of fuses leading from the inflammable wedge or cover support to the inflammable closures for the outlets in the inner wall of the c insuring drenching of the over and thereby contents of the waste basket when the cover is closed.

Another object of the invention is' to provide a device of this characte r which is simple in construction and sure to operate correctly.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein view of the imonal view taken through the cover and upper portion of the receptacle or body portion of the waste basket.

The receptacle or body portion 1 of this improved waste basket is formed of metal or other fire-proof material and may be of any height desired. In the present illustration, the receptacle has been shown oblong when viewed in top plan, but it will be obvious that it may be square, round, oval or any other shape desired. The bottom 2 is a great deal thicker than the walls thereby causing the receptacle to remain in an upright position and this bottom is preferably covered by a sheet of asbestos 3 which serves to insulate the bottom from heat and prevent danger of a floor being set on fire or marred byrheat in case the contents of the receptacle should catch fire. Feet 4 are provided at the corners of the' bottom to retain the receptacle in spaced relation to a floor.

The cover 5 is also formed of sheet metal and this cover is formed hollow, as shown in Figure 2, thereby defining a chamber 6 intended to be filled with water or a liquid fire extinguishingchemical. A filling neck 7 normallyyclosed by a cap 8 projects from the front wall of the cover and openings 9 constituting outlets are formed in the inner wall 10 of the cover. These outlet openings are preferably spaced from each other, as shown in Figure 1,'and are to be closed by plugs 11 formed of celluloid or other quick burning material and threaded, as shown in Figure 2, so that they may be screwed into the openings9. A smallopening 12 is formed in the outer or upper wall of the cover through which air may enter and allow the liquid contents of the cover to quickly flow out of the same through the openings 9 when the plugs 11 are consumed. This opening is located, as shown in Figure 2, so that when the cover is raised the liquid contents cannot leak out, This cover has hinge cars 13 pivot- .ally connected with side walls of the receptacle therebypivotally mounting the cover lfor movement froma closed to an opened position and springs 14 having their ends engaged with pins; 15 and '16 are provided in order to insure quick movement of the cover from an opened to a closed position when the cover is released. The front and side walls of the cover project beyond the inner wall thereby forming bordering flanges adapted to overlap the front and side walls of the receptacle and form a substantially airtight closure and cause flame to be extinguished when the cover is closed.

The cover is to be normally supported in a raised position and in order to do so there is employed a wedge or support 17 formed of celluloid or other quick burning material,

and this wedge which is triangular in shape 15 disposed agamst thecover and rear wall of the receptacle with its upper end engaged beneath cleats 18 carried by the cover and its lower end engaged beneath the upper ends of strips 19 secured against the rear wall of the receptacle in transverse spaced relation to each other. The strips 19 cooperate to form a track open along its front and in this track is disposed a fuse strip 20 also formed of celluloid. This track and the fuse strip engaged therein extend to a point close to the bottom of the receptacle and, therefore, in case. of contents of the receptacle catching fire the fuse strip will become ignited even if the flame is near the bottom of the receptacle and as the fuse strip will burn very quickly the block or support 17 of celluloid will be very quickly ignited and consumed, thereby releasing the'cover and allowing the springs to move it to a closed position. Closing the cover excludes air from the receptacle and while-this is usually suflicient to extinguish the paper or other burn ing contents of the waste basket there is danger of the contents smoldering after the cover has been closed and bursting into flame when the cover is again raised. In order to insure complete extinguishing of the contents of the receptacle, there has. been provided other fuse strips 21 engaged in tracks formed by metal strips 22 secured against the inner wall of the cover between the outlet openings 9. One of these fuse strips engages the upper end of the wedge or support 17 and will become ignited from this wedge so that flame will travel along the fuse strips 21 to the inflammable plugs and cause these plugs to catch fire. As the plugs burn, they either drop out of the openings 9 or are burned to such an extent that liquid will be permitted to escape through these openings. This liquid which may be water or a fire extinguishing chemical flows from the hollow cover downwardly into the receptacle, thereby causing the contents of the receptacle to be drenched and thoroughly extinguished. I have, therefore, provided a waste basket so constructed that in case the contents of the basket should become ignited the cover will be released for closing and the contents of the waste basket drenched to insure complete extinguishing of the flame.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A container for inflammable material comprising a receptacle open at its top, a cover for said receptacle pivoted thereto for movement from a closed to a raised position, means to urge the cover to a closed position, a track extending vertically against a wall of the receptacle, a prop to secure said cover in a raised position and disposed between the cover and upper end of said track, said prop being formed of inflammable material, and a fuse extending vertically in said track and exposed throughout its length with its upper end disposed for engagement with said prop.

2. A container for inflammable material comprising a receptacle-open at its top, a cover for said receptacle pivoted thereto for movement from a closed to a raised position, means to urge the cover to .a closed position a prop to secure said coverin a raised. position disposed between the cover and the rear wall ,of the receptacle, said prop being formed of inflammable material, a fuse in said receptacle leading to-said prop, the cover being formed with a chamber to receive fire extinguishing fluid, said chamber having an outlet, a closure for the outlet of inflammable material, and a fuse to conduct flame from the prop to the closure. 1

3. A container for inflammable material comprising a receptacleopen at its top, a cover for said receptacle pivoted thereto for movement from a closed to'a raised position, means'to urge the cover to a closed position, a prop to secure said cover in a raised positiondisposed between the cover and rear wall of the receptacle, said prop being formed of inflammable material, the cover being hollow to form a chamber to receive fire extinguishing fluid and having its inner wall formed with an outlet, a closure for the outlet formed of inflammable materiahand a fuse leading from said prop to said closure.

4. A container for inflammable material comprising a receptacle open at its top, a cover for said receptacle pivoted thereto for movement from a closed to a raisedposition, means to urge the cover to a closed position, a prop to secure said cover in a raised position disposed between the cover and the rear wall of the receptacle, said prop being formed of inflammable material, the cover being hollow to form a chamber to receive fire extinuishing fluid and having its inner wall 1 ormed with an outlet, and a plug to close the outlet opening formed of inflammable material.

5. A container for inflammable material comprising a receptacle open at its top, a cover for said receptacle pivoted thereto for movement from a closed to a raised position, -me'ans to urge the cover-to a, closed position, the cover being hollow to form a. chamber to receive fire extinguishing fluid and having its inner Wall formed with a discharge opening, a track extending vertically a ainst a wall of said receptacle, a fuse strip o inflammable material engaged in said track and exposed throughout its length, a track carried by the inner wall of said cover leading to the dischar e opening, a plug for closing the discharge opening formed of inflammable material, a prop of inflammable material to hold the cover open extending between and engaged with the tracks of said receptacle and said cover, and a fuse strip in the track of the cover exposed throughout its length and leading from said prop to said closure plug.

6. A container for inflammable material comprising a receptacle open at its top, a cover for said receptacle pivoted thereto for movement from a closed to a raised position, means to urge the cover to a closed position, the cover being hollow to form a chamber to receive fire extinguishing fluid and having its inner wall formed with discharge openings spaced from each other, tracks extending between said openings, plugs of inflammable material removably engaged in the openings, fuse strips in said tracks to ignite the plugs,

. a track extending vertically against a wall of the receptacle, a fuse in the track of said receptacle, and a prop of inflammable material engaged between tracks-of the receptacle and cover and serving to support the cover in a raised position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

RICHARD V. SPENCER. [n s.] 

